This is a blog about an adoptee and the hurdles that she faces. Life is always interesting.

Friday, December 01, 2006

Corruption in Adoption

As requested, I checked into possible lawsuits against adoption agencies by birth parents. I only noticed one in the Georgia Tann and the Tennessee Children's Home Society. I did notice quite a few by adoptive parents wanting information for their children's health. I also noticed the government stepping in with adoption agencies in Utah. One thing that I did notice is that the United States Government is getting involved in the Hague Convention. International adoption is a fast growing business. It seems to me that adoption should be regulated more forcefully.

From what I understand of the Georgia Tann scandal, the records in Tennessee were sealed because of it. Its almost like the adoptees themselves were to blame for the scandal. I wonder how many of my readers remember Joan Crawford? Well I came across some stuff on her. Everyone has got to remember the Mommie Dearest movie. Lord knows that I do. Well I did find out that Ms Crawford adopted five children. The birth mother of the second child, Christopher came back and got him. Joan had used the Tennessee Children's Home Society to adopt her children. I read also that her two youngest daughters years after she died searched and found their extended families. I don't know if Christina or the second Christopher ever did that.

I have heard many horror stories of the adoption agencies of the past. One friend of mine was placed in a padded room when she asked for her son. Another woman was not given any pain relief and left in a darkened room. Others were given so many drugs to even remember the birth. Others just awakened from the drugs to have papers shoved in their faces.

I have discovered that most people believe that adoptees should be allowed access to their records. Most people assume that we have them. Sorry not true. Many states want to regulate their access to it. They believe that birth parents want to hide from their children. I wish they would talk to US involved in adoption instead of going on the assumptions of a lobbist that supports adoption agencies. The NCFA wants to keep those records sealed because many of their agencies would be sued for the way that they treated birth mothers and birth fathers of the baby scoop era. After reading the MSN and Yahoo Message boards, many assume that the birth mothers of the past and even now are crack whores and such. Step outside your box of security. Look at these women - are they really that? NO they are not. To me that is slanderous to even say that. Most of these women were stuck in a horrible situation where they had no choices. There was no contraception. It was even illegal for men to use condoms back in the sixties. Married women were not even allowed contraception of any kind. The more I think about this topic - why haven't birth mothers of the past sued adoption agencies? I think that would be a good idea. It would force the government to check agencies here and overseas. Women's rights would no longer be violated.

Even as late as this year, adoption agencies in Utah seem to be out of control. They seem to have violated the Indian Child Welfare Act in one case. It was in the Deseret News on October 30, 2006. The birth father was fighting for his rights to his daughter. The Navajo tribe is fighting the ruling against the adoption. The law requires that the child should first be place with the members of the child's family: senond to the other people in the child's tribe and finally with other Indian families. It seems like many steps in this were missed. Its agencies like this one that are out and out for the money. It doesn't matter who they hurt in the process.

I have found countless of stories where adoptive parents, adoptees, and birth parents are left to suffer the consequences of the actions of unscrupulous adoption agencies. I have previously mentioned the Gladney lawsuits that the adoptive parents sued them for information that concerned the well being of their child. I have mentioned the Seymour Kurtz adoption agencies. They offer $10,000 to birth mothers to give up their children. To me that is the buying of children. I came across a lawsuit against the United States government by them. They wanted tax exempt status. What they forgot was that they had made a profit. Mr. Kurtz thinks he is above state laws and federal laws as well.

Another quirky thing that I find interesting about our state governments is that they feel the need to requlate abortion. Even though I am pro-choice in regards to everyone else, I am pro-life when it comes to my own life. I want to be able to control my own decisions over my own body. It is not anyone else's choice. My body, my life, my choice. Teens have to have parental permission to have an abortion. Teens don't have to have parental permission to put a child up for adoption. Minors as young as age 10 in some states can give a child up for adoption. Recently I heard about a study done where parents were actually giving permission for their daughters to have an abortion. So now the states are fighting that one - some states have laws that prosecute anyone (parents included) who helps a woman have an abortion outside their state. From what I hear even the federal government is considering legislation on this. No one seems to have the same problem that I have with this little situation. Its not okay to allow a teenager to make a decision over her own body but it is okay for her to put her child up for adoption. Another thing is funny is that parents are also supporting their child's right to keep and raise their children.

4 comments:

I agree with you that there are more than just a few quirks when it comes to the law regarding what teens can or cannot consent to. In Wisconsin, teens can receive birth control without parental consent, but I do not believe they can abort without it. I also do not believe that a teenager (I am referring to anyone under age 18 as a teenager), can consent to giving up their child without parental consent since the parent is still the legal guardian of their teenage child. However, in Wisconsin, there is grandparent liability to support their grandchild if the grandchild is born by a their minor child. So I have known of more than just a few grandparents paying child support until their own children reach the age of majority.

Like you, personally I would never want to abort a child of mine. However, I firmly believe that is an individual choice and would not want the ability to choose taken from anyone.

I am a big proponent of parents assisting their children who have children no matter the age. I think many people have got this whole inheritance idea backwards. Parents save money like mad to give it to their kids when they die. Very morbid, if not selfish in my mind. Why not give it to them when they need it most - like NOW, so you can enjoy them using it to help raise the grandchildren. I will never understand the need to wait.

Amy, there are many court cases where parents have tried to get their children back from adoption agencies or from whatever 'temporary placement" they are in.... The case law references are usually found below the statutes in the statute books of every state. You would have to look up the relevant laws..such as the surrender laws of the state of Utah. I know there were some cases there. There was a doctor who sued to recover his son, who was adopted by people in Canada, but the agency was in Utah, I think.And there was one in CA..Tyler vs Childrens Home Society of CA, sometime in the 90s I think.Those are just a couple of examples.they have happened all over..Regarding Georgia Tann. That was a racketeering charge..a federal charge..and it also involved a judge.And I think that because it happened when it did, there was more shock than there would be now...we seem to have become a nation that doesn't object to "'get the baby any way you can.'"

I most definitely agree with you on that last statement. After hearing a coworker say to go to the local high school and ask the high school counselor about pregnant teens, I was shocked. Utah really seems to have the worst laws towards both adoptive parents and birth parents. I will look into it further

I most definitely agree with you on that last statement. After hearing a coworker say to go to the local high school and ask the high school counselor about pregnant teens, I was shocked. Utah really seems to have the worst laws towards both adoptive parents and birth parents. I will look into it further

About Me

I can't believe that I am doing this again. I am a Christian. I only become bible thumping when an individual misquotes or misinterprets the bible. Don't ever underestimate me. I am a wife to a wonderful man who is my super hero. I am the mother of five kids now. Two are grown with families of their own. I have three teenage girls. Oh Lord the hormones!

Yes I am an adoptee. It is not all that I am but it plays a key role in who I am. I am not a grateful adoptee but God did place me with a great family.

Currently I am attending college in Houston at a great community college. It is called Houston Community College. Ever heard of it? My goals are to attend Prairie View A & M and become a nurse. I want my bachelors and my masters. I am down to my last semester at HCC. Sadly an individual needs capital letters behind their name in order to be taken seriously

I also have two great dogs, Charlie and Maci, and Lady Spazz, our delightfully queenly feline. I am hoping to convince a wonderful black stray cat to allow us to become owned by her as well. Time will tell. She has already inspected our garage.

I am also a gardener now that my husband and I own our home in Katy, Texas. I love hibiscus flowers, roses, and lily daturas. My kids will tell you that it is mainly hibiscus. I have giants as well as normal ones. I also want another snow Hibiscus.

Welcome and enjoy. I should warn you that I have mellowed some but do not be misunderstood. I believe in adoptee rights period.